Newark's Whitson gets OHSAA hall of fame call after 50 years of sports officiating

In his 50th year of calling balls and strikes and running up and down the sidelines at basketball and football games, Newark official John Whitson, 68, is receiving the state's highest honor.

Whitson, along with 13 other officials, will be inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in June.

Former colleague and official, Terry Fout, 75, could not have been more ecstatic for his long-time partner and close friend. To Fout, he felt Whitson was deserving of this honor.

“[John] is very dedicated to doing things the right way, no shortcuts,” Fout said.

Whitson was nominated by the Licking County Football Officials Association and the [Columbus] Ohio Basketball Association, both of which he is a member.

“I think that’s what makes it such a nice honor – to be nominated by your peers,” Whitson said.

He is coming up on his 50th year officiating in baseball, 46th in basketball, and 38th in football.

For him, it’s all about staying connected to sports he loves the most. Whitson has been dedicated to football and basketball since he was a kid. He played both sports in high school in Maple Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, and continued to play basketball while a student at Marietta College.

After graduating, Whitson wanted to stay connected to athletics, so he took up umpiring for minor league baseball for three years until making the switch over to high school sports. In the early stages of his career, Whitson balanced officiating and a sales job at Mathis Moving and Storage, in Newark. His boss was supportive of his officiating job, allowing for a flexible schedule in the winter season.

Business was often slower in the winter, so Whitson could dedicate more time to officiating. Once summer rolled around, he would put more time into his sales job. Though, it was nice to have a supportive group of coworkers, it was his wife Sharon who has been his biggest supporter. They have been together for 48-years, having met in high school.

“It takes a special person to be married to a sports official, we’re gone so much, including having to raise a child. Not everyone can be married to a sports official,” [John] Whitson said.

For his son Chad Whitson, 41, watching his dad growing up was influential in his career choice. Chad is an umpire for Major League Baseball, who recently hit the road as opening day kicked off the season in late March.

Chad would tag along with John to games growing up, watching his father officiate. Once he was old enough he would begin officiating high school baseball games in North Newark. From there he would earn a college degree in sports marketing before pursuing a professional career of officiating in baseball. Chad was attracted to another aspect of officiating. The friendships.

“I thought it was a cool part of the game to still be around it and build these friendships that last long after you hang the gear up,” Chad said.

For John, it was in learning the officiating structures for high school sports that he met some of his closest friends. Terry Fout is one of them. According to Fout, they are a package deal nowadays when officiating athletic events.

“We became umpiring partners, and the assigners knew that if they wanted one of us, then they would have to get both of us,” Fout said.

That was the kind of relationship Whitson was able to find through officiating, similar to how athletes can find those bonds in the sports they play.

“The comradery that you established with fellow officials, [the football crew] have been together for 35 years. We’ve seen our kids grow up and now we have grandkids among the crew, it's quite a bond,” Whitson said.

Prior to his induction there had only been four officials from Licking County inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Hall of Fame. This year Whitson and Bill Mason will be added to that illustrious list.

John Whitson will be inducted alongside 13 other officials this June.

2023 OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame Induction Class

• Rick Bayless, Delaware (BK)

• Dave Campbell, Cincinnati (BK, FB, CC, TF)

• Phil Colflesh, Dublin (FB)

• Charles “Ron” Golemon, Van Wert (BK, BB)

• Andrew Holloman, Orwell (BB, SB, BK)

• Carl Jordan Sr., Pepper Pike (BK)

• Bill Mason, Granville (BK, LX)

• Donald Mason, Zanesville (WR)

• Cheryl Opperman, Wellington (SB)

• Michael Porpora, Wadsworth (SO)

• Michael Rauch, Beverly (BK)

• Katie Roesch, Galion (VB, TF, BK)

• Kevin Schwarzel, Athens (BK)

• John Whitson, Newark (BK, FB, BB)The full press release can be found here.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Newark's Whitson gets OHSAA hall of fame call for officiating